Briefing: OnePlus to release 5G smartphone in Europe

What happened: Liu Zuohu, CEO of Chinese smartphone startup OnePlus, claimed during the Qualcomm Tech Summit in Maui, Hawaii that the company will release Europe’s first commercial 5G handset in 2019. The smartphone manufacturer will work with British carrier EE for the release, and continue to use Qualcomm chips. With strong performance of international markets, OnePlus’ revenues for 2017 were around RMB 10 billion ($1.5 billion).

Why it’s important: OnePlus’ plan reflects an important part of China’s 5G ambitions—collaborating with global partners for low entry barriers to international markets. China’s strategic 5G companies ZTE and Huawei are currently embroiled in tech and national security disputes in the UK, US, New Zealand, and Australia. OnePlus’ path and collaborative plan may see substantial results in commercial markets.